Introduction

Our laboratory has an ongoing interest in discovering transformations that afford novel chemotypes [1-4]. To this end, we have developed a reaction screening paradigm that enables the discovery of new reaction processes and chemotypes [5]. For example, we have conducted multidimensional reaction screens using alkynyl o-benzaldehyde scaffolds, which revealed a number of reactions affording novel polycyclic scaffolds, including Au(III)-catalyzed addition of diethyl malonate to 1 to afford isochromene 2 (Scheme 1). The chemotypes discovered in initial pilot studies have been further developed into library scaffolds and identified as biologically interesting structures [6]. Herein, we report the expanded utility of alkynyl o-benzaldehydes through a sequential metal-catalyzed cycloisomerization process to afford a novel polycyclic cyclopropane chemotype.

Results and Discussion

In an effort to further explore the utility of alkynyl o-benzaldehydes as scaffolds for reaction screening, we designed a focused reaction screen with diynyl benzaldehyde [7] substrate 3. Based on the cycloisomerization/addition reactions previously studied (Scheme 1), it was not clear at the outset of our study whether an o-alkynyl benzaldehyde containing an additional alkynyl moiety (3) would react to form an isochromene derivative or whether additional polycyclization would occur [8]. Accordingly, a reaction screen was conducted, evaluating a number of metal catalysts in the presence of diethyl malonate. From this focused reaction screen we identified three types of reactivity: (1) no reaction; (2) alkyne hydration (4); and (3) cycloisomerization leading to isochromene (5) (Figure 1). Many catalysts resulted in no reaction, including ones that might have been expected to catalyze cycloisomerization, such as AgOTf. Two catalysts, Cu(OTf)2 and Pd(MeCN)2Cl2, afforded only hydration of the alkyne. Interestingly, hydration was regioselective, which is possibly due to direction from the ether oxygen. We were most interested in metal catalysts that effected cycloisomerization of 3 to alkynyl isochromene 5, which is an interesting enyne substrate with potential for further reactivity [9,10]. In the reaction screen of alkynyl benzaldehyde substrate 3, we found that in the absence of optimization Cu(MeCN)4PF6[11-13] afforded the highest isolated yield of 5 (60%) (Scheme 2).

As the production of isochromene 5 offered a unique opportunity for additional cycloisomerization processes, we elected to explore this manifold of reactivity. Based on reports by Echavarren and co-workers [14,15], we treated enyne 5 with PtCl2 at 80 °C in toluene [16,17]. The reaction afforded polycyclic cyclopropane 6 in good yield (65%) as a single diastereomer (Scheme 2a). Interestingly, reaction of 3 in the presence of only PtCl2 afforded exclusively isochromene 5 in low yield. Further studies revealed that a multicatalytic reaction system [18] utilizing both Cu(I) and Pt(II) [19] catalysts afforded the desired cyclopropane 6 in moderate yield (40%) along with ketone 7 (45%), derived from [4 + 2] cycloaddition of the benzopyrylium intermediate with the pendent alkyne [20] (Scheme 2b). However, better yields were observed when the initial cycloisomerization was carried out in the presence of Cu(MeCN)4PF6 followed by the addition of PtCl2 to the reaction mixture (Scheme 2b). Optimization of the one-pot conditions afforded exclusively 6 in good yield (89%). X-ray crystal analysis confirmed the structure and relative stereochemistry of polycyclic cyclopropane 6 (Figure 2, Supporting Information File 1).

We next focused on an evaluation of the general scope of the reaction with regard to aryl and alkyne substitution. Reaction utilizing an electron-poor trifluoromethyl-substituted diynyl benzaldehyde 8 was successful, producing product 9 in moderate yield (Table 1, entry 1). m-Methyl- and naphthyl-containing substrates 10 and 12 afforded polycyclic cyclopropanes 11 and 13 in 48 and 51% yields, respectively (Table 1, entries 2 and 3).

A proposed mechanistic pathway for diastereoselective, sequential cycloisomerizations is shown in Scheme 3. We propose the initial cycloisomerization and nucleophilic addition of diynyl benzaldehyde 3 and dimethyl malonate is catalyzed by Cu(I) to afford isochromene 24[20-22]. Pt(II) π-coordination of the pendant alkyne of 24 followed by cyclization of the enol ether affords the seven-membered-ring metal-“ate” intermediate 25. The cyclization occurs at the face opposite the malonate substituent (Nu, 24a) to minimize steric interactions relative to 24b, leading to the observed diastereoselectivity (Scheme 3, inset) [23,24]. Subsequent cyclopropane formation through addition of the vinyl metal to the oxonium intermediate affords metallocarbenoid 26, which may then undergo a 1,2-hydride shift to intermediate 27 followed by elimination of the metal catalyst [25] to afford the observed cyclopropane product 6.

An alternative reaction pathway may be invoked for the ethyl-substituted substrate 22 leading to product 23 (Scheme 4). After initial cyclization of the enol ether with the Pt-activated alkyne, the resulting metal-“ate” intermediate 28 may undergo preferential elimination and proto-demetallation to afford 1,5-diene 29. A second elimination results in the ring-opened triene 30. Subsequent 6π-electrocyclization affords alcohol 31, which aromatizes through loss of water to afford the observed isochromane 23.

Conclusion

We have described sequential cycloisomerizations of diynyl o-benzaldehyde substrates to access novel polycyclic cyclopropanes. The reaction sequence involves initial Cu(I)-mediated cycloisomerization/nucleophilic addition to an isochromene followed by diastereoselective Pt(II)-catalyzed enyne cycloisomerization. The chemistry reported herein illustrates the power of sequential cycloisomerization processes to provide access to novel chemotypes and chemical diversity from readily accessible building blocks [26]. Further transformations of the novel polycyclic cyclopropanes as well as additional studies employing reaction screening for metal-mediated processes is ongoing and will be reported in future publications.

Experimental

General Information: All nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were recorded on either a Varian or Bruker spectrometer. 1H NMR spectra were recorded at 400 MHz at ambient temperature with CDCl3 as solvent, unless otherwise stated. 13C NMR spectra were recorded at 100.0 MHz at ambient temperature with CDCl3 as solvent, unless otherwise stated. Chemical shifts are reported in parts per million relative to CDCl3 (1H, δ 7.27; 13C, δ 77.0) and acetone-d6 (1H, δ 2.05; 13C, δ 30.8). Data for 1H NMR are reported as follows: chemical shift, multiplicity (ovrlp = overlapping, s = singlet, d = doublet, t = triplet, q = quartet, qt = quintuplet, m = multiplet), coupling constant in hertz, and integration. All 13C NMR spectra were recorded with complete proton decoupling. Analytical LC was performed on a 2.1 × 50 mm, 1.7 μM C18 column. Analytical thin-layer chromatography was performed by using 0.25 mm silica gel 60-F plates. Otherwise, flash chromatography was performed by using 200–400 mesh silica gel. Yields refer to chromatographically and spectroscopically pure materials, unless otherwise stated. Acetonitrile, CH2Cl2, THF, and toluene were purified by passing through two packed columns of neutral alumina. All reactions were performed under an argon atmosphere in oven-dried or flame-dried glassware.